Winding machine



May 17, 1966 F. A. MACEDO 3,251,560

WINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1965 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. BY FRANK A. MACEDO ATTORNEYS donn a fresh package of supply yarn.

United States Patent O 3,251,560 WINDING MACHINE Frank A. Macedo, 21 Edgemere Road, Pawtucket, RI. Filed Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 322,626 13 Claims. (Cl. 24218) The present invention relates to winding machines and more particularly relates to novel and improved appalaws for starting the winding cycle and for winding transfer tails on package cores arranged'in juxtaposition on a common winding spindle.

In. the following specification and claims the term yarn is employed in a generalsense to apply to all kinds of strand materials, either textile or otherwise, and the designation package is intended to mean the product of the machine whatever its form.

In the manufacture of yarn and more particularly in the manufacture of synthetic yarn the output of the spinning machine is a strand of yarn which is continually advancing at a high rate of speed. One of the problems of synthetic yarn manufacture is to catch this running strand of yarn, secure it to the spindle of a winding machine, and place the winding machine in operation to .wind thestrand at the same rate that it is advanced by the spinning machine, all while the strand is continually running or advancing. A further consideration is directed to placing a preliminary group of yarn winds or a transfer tail on the package core prior to commencing the formation of the main body or service wind. Both the transfer tail and the service windmust be accomplished without permitting any slack or excess yarn to accumulate between the winding machine spindle and the spinning machine and without breaking the running strand of yarn. This transfer tail serves the purpose of permitting the inner terminal end of one package to be tied to the leading end of a companion pack-age. Thereafter as these packages of yarn are used as a supply for ,further operations, as for example winding the yarn therefrom on to a beam, it becomes unnecessary for the operator to stop the further winding operation in order to Rather, several supply packages of yarn may be arranged in side by side relationship on a creel and the ends thereof joined together with the use of transfer tails. Obviously, as one package thereafter becomes exhausted the link provided by the transfer tail permits unwinding to continue, the supply yarn thereafter being withdrawn from the succeeding package.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved apparatus for catching a running strand of yarn and starting its winding on a wind ing machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for permitting a strand of yarn advancing continuously from the supply source to be picked up and wound onto a package core. I

Yet, an additional object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for commencing the winding cycle on a winding machine by initially transferring the yarn to a first position on the core for winding of a transfer tail and thereafter successively transferring the yarn to' a second position on the core for winding ofthe service wind.

Still a further-object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for winding a transfer tail of predetermined length on a rotating core.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for winding transfer tails of predetermined length on adjoining package cores rotatably mounted on a common spindle, and controlling the size of each of said transfer tails from a single control point.

Another object of the present invention is to provide of the flange being the initial yarn receiving zone.

apparatus for commencing the winding cycle of a winding machine and winding a transfer tail as an incident thereof which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable and reliable in use.

' Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a winding machine and illustrating the winding spindle, traversing mechanism, and compensator arm means thereof, with the present invention incorporated therewith;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are views similar to FIG. 1 and showing the parts of the present invention in diiferent operative positions; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 looking inwardly toward the winding machine, the compensator arm means being omitted.

The apparatus of the present invention is directed to a winding machine of the type adapted to wind a continuously advancing strand of yarn. In connection therewith the spindle is arranged to accommodate a pair of juxtaposed yarn cores. Each spindle end is provided with means for accommodating and guiding the continuously advancing strand of yarn in an inactive path, that is to say, a path where the yarn simply passes by the spindle without being wound thereon. Thus, at one end of the spindle there is provided a pulley-like flange, the channel At the opposite end of the spindle an arrangement such as the apparatus disclosed in US. Patent 2,998,202 issued August 29, 1961 to J. V. Keith and entitled.Initial Strand End Snagger is mounted. A first yarn manipulating member is positioned in the radial plane of the yarn end snagger. Similarly, a second yarn manipulating member is positioned in the radial plane of the aforementioned flange. Each of these members is operable through a control or actuator rod whereby, as successive operations, the continuously advancing strand of yarn passing over the initial yarn end snagger at one end of the spindle, and over the flange at the other end of the spindle, are sequentially moved from their inactive paths on to their respective package cores for the winding of a trans fer tail and, thereafter, for the winding of a service Wind on each of the juxtaposed cores. Thus, the machine is threaded up by a first continuously advancing strand of yarn being threaded around an associated dancer roll and lead over the initial thread end snagger at one end of the machine. At the opposite end of the machine a sim ilar advancing strand of yarn is guided about its dancer roll and'into the pulley and, at the same time, is engaged in a slot in a movable hook. There-after the spindle is rotated and, at the time the spindle attains the desired spindle speed, the thread end snagger is operable to engage the yarn passing thereover and to deposit the yarn on'the' core. A yarn manipulating member having a notch or shoulder therein is arranged to engage and limit the axial movement of this yarn'strand when it is initially deposited on the core by the thread end snagger. Hence, the yarn becomes engaged in thisnotch and is caused to wind in substantially one'p'osition on the package core "until a transfer tail of a desired size is formed thereon.

At this time the actuator rod is moved by a suitable plunger. This action causes the yarn forming the transfer tail just described to be cammed off of the shoulder and to slide down a yarn deflecting surface to become engaged in a yarn traversing guide whereupon the said advancing strand of yarn is traversed to and fro axially of the core to wind a service wind. As a concomitant to the movement of the plunger as just described the yarn engaged at the opposite end of the spindle, i.e., in the flange and through the hook, is moved toward its respective core in response to movement of the hook which is actuated by movement of the actuator rod. A notch in the side of the spindle engages the yarn thereby pulling it from beneath the hook and causing it to be moved onto the core. The yarn simultaneously engages its yarn manipulating'member and slides down a portion of this member to become engaged in a notch or'shoulder thereof for winding a transfer tail at a suitable position on its associated package core. Upon release of the plunger a cam member is actuated to raise the second continuously advancing strand of yarn out of its retaining notch permitting it to slide down the yarn manipulating member and become engaged with a second yarn traversing guide whereupon this second strand of yarn is moved to and fro axially of the package core to wind a service wind thereon.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in FIG- URE l a portion of the frame of a winding machine referenced by the numeral 10. Except for the length of the winding spindle and the provision of a plurality of traverse guides the winding machine is similar to the winding mechanism disclosed in US. Patent 2,740,590 issued April 3, 1956 to J. V. Keith for Winding Machine. The winding machine 10 includes a spindle 12 rotatably .journaled in suitable bearings in the winding machine frame, the spindle being arranged to accommodate a pair of tubular package cores C, C thereon for rotation. Yarn guides 13, 13' are reciprocated by a barrel cam (not shown) which is rotatably journaled in a housing 14 fixed to the winding machine. Spindle 12 and the barrel cam are rotated by suitable power means such as an electric motor not illustrated herein but which may be enclosed within the winding machine frame. Moreover, the speed of spindle 12 is regulated by a control circuit and mechanism similar to that discribed in U.S. Patent No. 2,752,105 issued June '26, 1956 to J. V. Keith for Winding Machine. To this end a pair of dancer rolls 15, 15' are supported on branches 16, 16' respectively of a compensator arm 17. The control circuit and mechanism are actuated by the winding strands of yarn which move compensator arm 17, forming a part of the control mechanism, to govern the spindle speed in response to changes in tension in the winding strands of yarn.

The outer end of spindle 12 is provided with an initial thread end snagger 18 fully described in the afore-cited Patent 2,998,202. While references may be had to that patent for a full disclosure of the initial thread end snagger it will serve here to point out that this snagger includes a cap 20 over which a running strand is adapted to pass. Further, a yarn engaging member 22 is arranged for movement relative to a slot 24 formed in the periphery of a flange 26 at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the thread end snagger. Yarn engaging member 22 functions to move outwardly over the cap 20 under centrifugal force when rotation of the spindle 12 increases to a predetermined speed. Thereupon, yarn engaging member 22 seizes the strand of yarn running over the cap 20 and delivers this yarn onto core C carried on spindle 12.

Up to this point the description has been directed to elements commonly associated with a winding machine. The foregoing elements do not form a part of the present invention per se but, rather, are presented herein for purposes of clarity'and to a complete understanding of the nature and operation of the instant invention.

Reverting now to FIGS. 1-3 the inner end of spindle 12, that is to say the end of the spindle nearest machine housing 10, has a circumferentially grooved flange 28 affixed thereto. A yarn engaging groove or slot 30 is formed in one wall 29 of the flange 28 at an angle of approximately 45 to the rotational axis of single 12, this slot serving in a manner to be more fully described here after for seizing a strand of yarn running on flange 28 and guiding it onto package core C.

As seen in the drawing, housing 14, in addition to enclosing a barrel earn as stated earlier, also serves as the mounting means for a pair of yarn manipulating members 31 and 32. Thus, member 31 is situated on housing 14 in spaced relationship to and in the radial plane of flange 28. Similarly, member 32 is spaced radially outwardly from thread end snagger 18, see FIG. 4. With continuing attention to members 31 and 32 it will be seen that each is shaped as a right-angular element having laterally extending fingers 34, 36, respectively, which project parallel to the axis of spindle 12. However, it is to be observed that finger 34 has a yarn deflecting forward edge 38 sloped to incline downwardly and outwardly toward the outer member 32. On the other hand, the yarn deflecting forward edge 49 of finger 36 is inclined downwardly and inwardly toward member 31, each of the fingers 34 and 36 terminating in the radial plane of package cores C and C respectively and in the zone of movement of traverse guide 13, 13 respectively.

To the end that members 31 and 32 may serve to guide yarn onto respective package cores C and C in order to wind a transfer tail on each of these cores, the related fingers 34 and 36 of respective'members 31, 32 is notched in the respective edge 38 and 40. Thus, finger 34 has a notch 42 therein disposed in the radial plane of the inner end of package core that is, the end of the core nearest frame 10, so that, a strand of yarn engaged in the notch will wind yarn into a transfer tail as referenced by T. As will be further explained later the yarn is guided along inclined section 38' of edge 38 into this notch. Similarly, finger 36 has a notch at 44 so disposed as to guide yarn on package core C thereby winding a transfer tail T on the core toward the outer end thereof. Again here, an inclined secion 40" is provided to guide strand Y into its associated notch.

A bracket 46 is afiixed to the outer end of housing 14. Bracket 46 is bored through to slidably accommodate an elongated actuator rod 48. A spring 50 is compressed between bracket 46 and a knob 54 fast on the outer end of actuator rod 48. A stop collar 49 is located on the rod 48 inwardly of bracket 46 to limit the outward movement of the rod. The end of rod 48 remote from knob 54 is loosely connected through a pin 56 to a generally upstanding member 58 constituted as a book 60 integrally formed with a cam 62. Member 58 is rockably mounted on a post 63 on a stub shaft 64 embedded in the side of the winding machine frame 10, this member being so located as to situate hook 60 in the radial plane of flange 28 and being arranged to rock hook 60 into the radial plane of slot 30. Cam 62 is generally vertically rockable in a zone closely adjacent notch 42 and acts to lift a strand of yarn engaged by the notch upwardly therefrom in order thatthe yarn strand may slide downwardly along edge 38 to become engaged in yarn guide 13.

A radial arm constituting a cam member 66 is fastened to the outer section of actuator arm 48. This cam member extends upwardly terminating adjacent to member 32, see FIG. 4. The upper extreme of cam member 66 terminates somewhat above notch 44 and acts, upon axial movement of rod 48, to cam'a strand of yarn out of the notch and down edge 40 for engagement by guide 13.

In operation, the winding machine is initially threaded by a first strand of yarn Y being drawn from a supply source as, for example, a spinning machine, not illustrated, and looped about dancer roll 15, the yarn flowing in the direction of the arrow in FIGS. 1 and 4. The yarn then passes upwardly and is wrapped partially over the circumferential groove of flange 28, the yarn, in the course of this path, passing within the confines of hook 60 as shown movement of theyarn axially of the core C.

upwardly and push yarn Yout of notch 42.

5. 'in FIG. 1. The outer end of the yarn so threaded extends from flange 28 and may be momentarily held in any conventional manner as by an aspirator, as disclosed in the earlier cited US. Patent 2,998,202, but not herein shown. A second strand of yarn Y advancing from a spining machine or other source and moving in the direction of the arrow adjacent thereto in FIGS. 1 and 4, is looped under dancer roll and directed upwardly across cap of thread end'snagger 18, this strand being temporarily held in a like manner as with the first described yarn strand in an aspirator. Thereupon, spindle 12 is rotated with package cores C and C donned thereon as fully shown in FIG. 1. At this same time yarn guides 13, '13 will move to and fro axially of their respective package cores, this movement being started with the rotation of spindle 12. As fully related in the prior cited Patent No. 2,998,202 when the spindle. 12 attains a predetermined rotational speed yarn engaging member 22 moves out of slot 24 to grasp yarn strand Y and cause it to migrate onto the periphery of package core C. A suitable blade, not illustrated, locatedat the mouth of the aspirator, cuts the yarn as the yarn is grasped by member 22. The movement of yarn Y onto the periphery of package core .0 is guided by the. inclined section 40- w-ith which the yarn comes in contact when the yarn is grasped by member 22. Further, the general threadline of the yarn passing around the dancer roll 15' which is disposed in the radial plane of the approximate center of package core C enhances the As the yarn begins to so move it is caught'in notch 44 in the edge of member 32, see FIGS. 1 and 4. In consequence thereof the yarn dwells on the package core in alignment with the notch whereupon yarn is wound at its position to form transfer tail T.

At the time the operator determines that a transfer tail T of sufiicientsize has been wound he pushes actuator rod 4 8 inwardly to compress spring 50. Cam member 66 is thereby moved iniwardly camming yarn strand Y out of notch 44 and onto the edge 40 of member 32. The yarn thereupon moves down edge 40 moving toward what would be its normal path in generally a straight'line .between the spindle and dancer roll 15. In the course of this movement the yarn falls off the end of member 32 and is intercepted by yarn guide 13' as this yarn guide moves to and fro. The yarn is thereafter traversed by the movement of the yarn guide 13 to wind a service wind of yarn on package core C.

Simultaneously with the events just described which are initiated by inward movement of actuator rod 48, the following movements take place at the opposite end of the spindle affecting the movement of yarn strand Y. It will be recalled that the strand Y has already been described as engaged in hook 60. Axial movement of actuator rod 48 causes hook 60 to rock about its pivot post 63 on stub shaft 64 thereby moving yarn Y engaged therein into the rotative path of slot 30'. As spindle 12 ro-' tates this slot seizes the yarn Y out of hook 60 so that the yarn is pulled inwardly onto package core C. A blade at the mouth of aspirator, not herein shown, may be I employed to cut the yarn when the yarn is seized in slot 30. Again here, as with yarn Y, the yarn Y is urged inwardly by virtue of the inclined section 38 of finger 34 which which the yarn is brought in contact, as well as inherent tendency of the yarn to seek its normal path in a straight line between spindle 12 and dancer roll 15. However, as the yarn commences its inward movement over core C it is interrupted and held by notch 42. Thus, as actuator rod 48 continues to be held inwardly, transfer tail T is wound onto package core C. When the machine operator deter-mines that transfer tail T has attained sufficient size he releases the actuator rod '48. In consequence thereof member 58 is rocked counterclockwise causing cam 62 to rock The yarn is then free to move down edge 38 of member 31,

eventually falling otfthe end of this member to become engaged in yarn guide 13, in like manner as with Y, to be traversed axially ofpackage core C to place a service wind of yarn thereon.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only, and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1..In a winding machine, a rotatable spindle adapted to support a package core, means for rotating said spindle to wind an advancing strand of yarn onto said core, traverse means for reciprocating said strand axially of said core, yarn engaging means mounted on said spindle, said yarn engaging means including a laterally movable snagging element responsive to rotation of said spindle 'for engaging said strand at an inactive position and moving it to an active position on said core after the spindle has attained a predetermined speed, a yarn manipulating member engageable with the strand at its active position for guiding said strand along said core, holding means for interrupting said strand movement at one end of said core to wind a yarn transfer tail at said core end, and a cam for displacing said strand from said holding means, said yarn manipulating member being operable to receive said displaced strand and deliver it to a position for engagement by said traverse means.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a member mounted on said spindle adjacent said core end forguiding said strand in an inactive path for engagement by said snagging element.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said yarn manipulating member has an edge engageable with said strand delivered by said snagging means, said edge being inclined along its entire length, said edge terminating in the zone of movement of said traverse means, said strand being movable along said edge for movement axially of said core, and said strand being movable off said edge for positioning for engagement with said traverse means.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said yarn manipulating member is an elongated plate, and said holding means is a shoulder formed in said inclined edge intermediate the ends of said plate.

5. In a winding machine, a rotatable spindle adapted to support first and second package cores thereon, means for rotating said spindle to wind first and second strands of yarn respectively onto each of said first and second cores, traverse means for reciprocating each said strand axially of its respective core, first and second yarn engaging means for engaging said first and second strands at in-,

active positions and moving them to active positions on their respective cores, said first yarn engaging means being operable in means, said first yarn engaging means including a laterally movable snagging element responsive to rotation of said spindle for moving the first strand of yarn onto said first core after the spindle has attained a predetermined speed, first and second yarn manipulating members engageable respectively with said first and secondstrands at their active positions for guiding said strands along their associated cores, holding means for interrupting the movement of each said strand at one end of its related core to wind a yarn transfer tail at each said core end, and cam means for displacing each said strand from its holding means, said first and second yarn manipulating members being operable to receive said displaced first and second strands respectively and deliver them to positions for engagement by said traversing means for movement axially of their respective cores.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including a member mounted on said spindle adjacent each said core end for guiding the strand associated with each said core in an inactive path for engagement by its respective yarn engaging means.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim wherein each said yarn manipulating member has an edge engageable with said strand delivered by said snagging means each said edge being inclined along its entire length, each said edge terminating in the zone of movement of said tra verse means, each said strand being movable along said edge of its related yarn manipulating member for movement axially of its respective package core, and each said strand being movable off its associated edge for positioning for engagement with said traverse means.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each said yarn manipulating member is an elongated plate, and each said holding means is a shoulder formed in the inclined edge of its related plate intermediate the respective plate ends. 7

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein each said yarn manipulating member has an edge engageable with said strand delivered by said respective first and second snagging means, each said edge being inclined along its full length for guiding each said strand axially of its respective core.

10. In a Winding machine, a rotatable spindle adapted to support inner and outer cores in juxtaposed relationship thereon, means for rotating said spindle to wind a first strand of yarn on said outer core and a second strand of yarn on said inner core, traverse means for reciprocating each said strand axially of its respective core, first and second members for guiding said first and second strands in respective inactive paths, a first manipulating member for directing said first strand into engagement with said traversing means for winding on said first core, a second manipulating member for directing said second strand into engagement with said traversing means for winding on said second core, a first snagging means for shifting said first strand from its inactive path to said first manipulating member for movement therealong, a second snagging means for shifting said second strand from its inactive path to said second manipulating member for movement therealong, first and second holding means for interrupting the movement of said first and second strands along their respective manipulating members to wind a transfer tail onto the core associated with each said strand; and control means movable between depressed and released positions, said control means including first means for removing said first strand from said first holding means for further movement along said first manipulating member toward said traversing means and second means for moving said second strand from its inactive path to the second manipulating member when said control means is moved to said depressed position from said released position, said control means further including third means for moving said second strand from said second holding means for further movement along said second manipulating member toward said traversing means when said control means is moved to said released position from said depressed position.

11., Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first snagging means is mounted on said spindle, and said first snagging means includes a finger responsive to rotation of said spindle for engaging said first strand to shift the strand from its inactive position to said first manipulating member.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first and third means for moving said first and second strands from their respective holding means. includes first and second cams respectively.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 including a resilient member normally biasing said control means to said released position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,638,279 5/1953 Winslow 242"-18 2,998,202 8/1961 Keith et a1. 242l8 3,030,039 4/1962 Roberts 242-18 STA-NLEY N. GILREATI-I, Primary Examiner.

MERVIN STEIN, Examiner. 

1. IN A WINDING MACHINE, A ROTATABLE SPINDLE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A PACKAGE CORE, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SPINDLE TO WIND AN ADVANCING STRAND OF YARN ONTO SAID CORE, TRAVERSE MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID STRAND AXIALLY OF SAID CORE, YARN ENGAGING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SPINDLE, SAID YARN ENGAGING MEANS INCLUDING A LATERALLY MOVABLE SNAGGING ELEMENT RESPONSIVE TO ROTATION OF SAID SPINDLE FOR ENGAGING SAID STRAND AT AN INACTIVE POSITION AND MOVING IT TO AN ACTIVE POSITION ON SAID CORE AFTER THE SPINDLE HAS ATTAINED A PREDETERMINED SPEED, A YARN MANIPULATING MEMBER ENGAGEABLE WITH THE STRAND AT ITS ACTIVE POSITION FOR GUIDING SAID STRAND ALONG SAID CORE, HOLDING MEANS FOR INTERRUPTING SAID STRAND MOVEMENT AT ONE END OF SAID CORE TO WIND A YARN TRANSFER TAIL AT SAID CORE END, AND A CAM FOR DISPLACING SAID STRAND FROM SAID HOLDING MEANS, SAID YARN MANIPULATING MEMBER BEING OPERABLE TO RECEIVE SAID DISPLACED STRAND AND DELIVER IT TO A POSITION FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID TRAVERSE MEANS. 